Mom allegedly tells young children to ‘find a new family’

Published 6:15 pm, Tuesday, August 13, 2013

A Midland man and woman were arrested Sunday after they allegedly placed their three children in danger of bodily harm, according to court documents.

Carol Ann Clegg, 26, is being held on a $50,000 bond for two second-degree felony charges of abandoning or endangering a child with imminent danger of bodily injury.

Walter James Petronella Jr., 34, is being held on a $75,000 bond for three second-degree felony charges of abandoning or endangering a child with imminent danger of bodily injury.

Midland County investigators responded to the incident at about 4:25 p.m. on July 31 in the area of North County Road 1140 and East Highway 80.

They received reports that two children, ages 3 and 6, were walking on the side of the road while the temperature outside was 100 degrees. The investigators found the children, who said their mother spanked them, told them to get out of the house, and then told them she didn’t want them and to “find a new family and not to come back,” according to the arrest report.

Their mother, identified as Clegg, drove by the investigators and her children, and when she saw them, she got out of the vehicle. She told investigators she was looking for the children. When they returned to Clegg’s home, she ran inside and came out with a baby girl.

Meanwhile, a man, identified as Petronella, arrived at the home on foot, which led investigators to believe the baby was left home alone, according to the report. The document didn’t indicate where Petronella had gone when he left the house.

Now Playing:

Clegg told investigators she always tells her children to go outside and that she was cooking dinner during the time the children were gone, according to the report.

If convicted, the couple faces up to 20 years in prison for each second-degree felony charge.